St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-09-15

most of whom are entitled to that re.
spect and warm regard arising from
many years of neighborly association
keenly impressed me with the sense o.
responsibility involved in voting
against their wishes, so urgently ex'
pressed. Again, Whitefeld has a grea
interest in the extension of the White
field g. Jefferson railroad from Jeffer
son to Gorham, thence via Berlin tt
the vast forest region beyond, as tina
is the only practicable source upor
which our mills can rely for future
stock. This extension would make oul
lumber mills a permanent industry
but without it they would have to shut
down in very few years. You will
thus observe that this extension is o.
vital interest to Whitefeld and the re-
gion along its line. When the vote Of
instructions was presented to me L as
sured my people that l could secure q
pledge from the Boston & Maine road
which would be as satisfactory to them
as that of the AthertOn bill, which
guaranteed to build the extension
within two years or forfeit all its char
ter rights, that being all we asked
them to do. have been impOrtuned
from week to week to make good this
promise, and why have l not made it
good Simply, because l have trusted
to the word of my leaders, and last
week asked for pledge, which l could
not get, except by word of mouth. My
constituents demanded more. TO sus-
tain my position, was obliged to con
sent to ask the friends of the Anterior
bill for stronger pledge than L con-
sidered was in their bill, which, to my
great surprise, they willingly granted,
l previously pledging my constituents
that if they would give that pledge,
would support the Atherton bill.
What could l say to my people when
they received such treatment, through
me, instead of the pledge which in the
early stages of this controversy had
been led to expect. And without that
promised pledge, how could L look
them in the face and feel that L was
representing them like manT L be-
lieve that the AthertOn bill pledge is
sound in law and sincere in purpose,
and tWhitefield would not give cent
for additional assurances; but, to put
the security beyond all possible doubt,
| hold in my hands voluntary bond,
duly drawn, in the sum of $15O,OOO, as
supplementary guaranty, signed by
Frederick Smyth, Walter M. Parker,
N. S. Clark, B. A. Kimball, j. H. Pear
son. John A. White, S. S. Kimball,
Harry Bingham, N. H. Weeks, A. j.
Pillsbury, G. A. Basiel, E. ID. Rollins,
| l.. c.. Pattee, and seven other equally
responsible men, representing several
million dollars. The condition of this
bond binds these gentlemen to sub
scribe for one-half the necessary funds
to complete the Whitefield & Jefferson
railroad to Berlin, in the event that
the Concord and the Boston, Concord
& Montreal railroads shall not unite
within a year from the passage OF the
Atherton bill. This will leave only
one-half to be raised by the people
along the line. If the Concord &
Montreal roads do unite, as proposed,
of course the united corporations will
make the whole extension themselves.
There is no lodging and no equivOca-
ton about that pledge, and no doubt
about it's redemption.
| therefore transfer my support and
allegiance to the bill, which stands
squarely, openly and honestly for the
best interests, not only of Whitetield,
but also of jefferson, Randolph, Cor
ham and Berlin. ''If this be treason,
make the most of it,"
have thus, with all plainness and
candor of speech, and in the briefest
manner possible, giving you my rea-
sons for opposing the Hazen bill and
adoptinS the AthertOn bill. In nearing
the iuncture of this long contest re-
solved to give my mind a few days of
the utmost freedom of thought and
conclusion, accepting the result, what
ever it might be. The verdict is strong
and irrevocable, because it is true to
the line of my conscience and lntelll
gepce. know that at least some of
YOU cannot approve my position, but
having done right, as it is given me to
see the right, 1 shall go back to the
people who sent me here with no shame
in my face or guilt i n my heart, and
whatever others may do or say, shall
feel secure in the appreciation OF a
constituency whose instructions L have
Obeyed and whose welfare l have
served to the best of my humble abili-
ty. Thanking you for your courtesy
and very kind indulgence, [ will detain
you no longer.
S. B. Page-I desire to ask the gen
tleman from Whitefield if he has
changed his position and proposes to
change his vote in consideration of
this bond by him received, and l await
an answer.
Mr.. Hazen-I have so stated in that
paper.
Mr.. Paige-NOw, Mr.. Speaker, L de-
sire to read a card 81 am informed
by reliable parties that emissarles OF
the Concord railroad are securing
names to petitions asking representa-
tives to support the Anterior bill, on
the ground that am not in favor of
and shall not support the Hazen bill.
This statement is maliciOusly false in
every particular, am earnestly and
heartily in favor of the Hazen bill, and
| believe that the best interests of our
state demand it's passage. L have done,
and shall do, all that is in my power to
secure its passage as amended.
(Signed) l.. L. HAzEN."
l desire to ask the gentleman if he
signed that card and procured it to be
published only Friday last.
The Speaker-The chair will suggest
to the House that the member from
Whitefield can answer the interrOga-
ton or not. l understand that mem
bers are not obliged to answer interrO-
cations put to them upon the floor if
they desire not to.
Mr.. Hazen-I will state that l signed |
that card previous to receiving this
guaranty. After that, went to the
other side and tried to get guaranty |
from them, which l failed to do. then |
decided to give my adherence to the
Anterior bill.
A Dog Story.
Pail Mall Budget.
The story of the wounded collie